PUBLIC WORKS EXPENDITURE.

Otago Witness, Issue 2785, 31 July 1907, Page 52

PUBLIC WORKS EXPENDITURE.

DEMANDS UFON THE GOVERNMENT. STATEMENT BY THE PRIME MINISTER. (Fbom Otjr Own Correspondent.) WELLINGTON, July 29. . Some important remarks- concerning the policy of the Government in regard to public works expenditure were made today by the Prime Minister in replying to a deputation from the Nelson and West Coast districts, which urged the more speedy prosecution of the sections of work now in progress, as well as the authorisation of the portions so far miauthorised. The Prime Minister said that the residents of various distnefe who were now asking for increased expenditure on railways and public works evidently overlooked the fact that the present government were pursuing a more vigorous pulbko works policy than had be«n carried on by any other Government — even that of Sir Julius Vog>el. There we*e more railways under construction now than were under construction at any time during the regime of Sir Julius Vogel. Last year no less a sum than £1,345,749 was expended on railways alone. The Government were domg tremendous work, and doing it prudently. If it acceded to all the requests that were being made to start fresh works, a million loan would be a mere drop in the bucket. It would require three or tour millions a years to provide for all the works. The Government could only allocate the money at its disposal fairly, and it had to 'ntention of promising anything that it could not possibly carry out. The most mportant work on hand at the present time -was the North leland Main Trunk railway, and this urae absorbing £300,000 or £350,000 a year. Until this was out of the way, which would be about- the end of next y«ar, they could not give any great increases to any other lines. The mam thing was. to complete lines iteeady authorised, and che Government could only do thie to the axten* of the aaoney available each year. Mr Guinness, MM.R. : What amount is to be expended on railway construction this year ? Sir J. G Ward: You "will get that in the Public Works StatementMr Guinness: Te it not in !,he schedule to the Loam Bill? Sir J. G. Ward: .That only refers to the borrowed million. There .ie, of course, an additional amount to come from the consolidated fund. Proceeding, Sir Joseph said that during the previous year the debt of the colony had been increased by the sum of £1.988,000, and of that sum no lees than £1,345,749 had been epeni in connection with railways, £919,684 for actual constructive works, £308,150 on additions to open lines, and £117,915 on the duplication of existing lines. It had to be remembered, moreover, that during the year the Government would be called upon to make provision for £3,300,000 of Cre&h money, £800,000 in redemption of loans, £1 532,900 in ordinary conversions, and £2,000,000 ac a fresh loan. The first consideration of the Government m-uet be to keep the colony's financial position sound and healthy, «wid it was not intended to make any new appropriations for railways. The expenditure could not be increased, but it would probably have to be rather leee. The Government could not afford to go in for what might be termed an extravagant railway policy. In addition to what it was already doing, the whole position would be carefully reviewed, but he ttiehed to make it clear that the present Government could not be bound by any promisee made by any of its predecessors, no matter whether it wae Sir Julius Vogel or anyone e!ee. Any promises that had been made by their predeceasora were no doubt made in the light of particular circumstances then existing, but the present Government had to view the matter from the standpoint of the circumstances ac they existed at t<he present tiniA. The Government was sujjuous to

do its best to meet the requirements of each district, but it .had no fewer than 17 railways in course of construction at the present time, and these must be completed before any new works -were undertaken. A similar reply was given by the Prime Minister to a North Canterbury deputation which u-rged the extension of the Culverden line co Waiau.